Woodcarving Illustrated | SUMMER 2007 80
Teapot
Clock
project chip carving
Tis clock combines woodworking, woodcarving, and
chip carvingfor me it is the best of all three worlds!
Te shape comes from one of the teapots in my
wifes collection. Te traditional carving on this piece
is mainly rounding the edges of the teapot to resemble
a real teapot. Tere is also chip carving on the teapot
and the clock face. Te spoon pendulum is also carved
and shaped, but the spoon is embellished with more
chip carving. Te general woodworking comes into
play when you are tting the pendulum clockworks
into the back of the clock.
Charming clock
with chip-carved
details is perfect
for the kitchen
by Barry McKenzie
Transfer the pattern to the blank. Mark the centerline
of the spoon blank and use that line to position the top-view
pattern. Trace the top and side profle of the spoon pattern onto
the blank. When positioning the side-view pattern, align the
spoon handle with the top surface of the blank.
1
CARVING THE SPOON
Teapot Clock.indd 80 4/18/07 12:34:24 PM
www.woodcarvingillustrated.com 81
Rough out the profle of the spoon. Use a band saw or
coping saw. It is also possible to carve the spoon to shape, but it
will take longer. Transfer the centerline onto the top and back of
the spoon blank.
2
Round and smooth the bottom of the bowl before
hollowing the front. Keep both sides of the centerline
symmetrical. Sand away the knife marks for a fnished look.
4
Carve the bottom of the spoon bowl frst. Incorporate
a ridge of wood into the bowl to strengthen the part where the
bowl connects to the stem. I learned this technique from love
spoon carver Kenneth Bengtsson of Varberg, Sweden.
3
Hollow out the front bowl. Use a bent knife or a rotary
power carver. Leave the walls of the bowl about 116"-thick.
Smooth away the tool marks with sandpaper.
5
Shape the handle. This takes much less carving than
the bowl. Shape it to ft your hand comfortably; this may or may
not be symmetrical, but what feels good will look good. Do not
remove the centerline.
6
Transfer the chip-carving pattern to the spoon
handle. You can trace the pattern onto the wood, but I get better
results by using a ruler to mark and draw the lines directly on the
spoon blank.
7
Teapot Clock.indd 81 4/18/07 12:34:39 PM
Woodcarving Illustrated | SUMMER 2007 82
Chip carve the handle. Use standard chip-carving
techniques. For the leaf designs, see step 14 or WCI Holiday 2005
(Issue #33). The spoon is actually an attractive project all by itself,
and is a great way to practice your chip carving techniques. You
can follow my design or create one of your own.
8
Prepare the blank for the clock movement. Recess an
area in the back for your clock mechanism. You can use a router
or hand tools. I drilled an additional recess with a Forstner bit to
accommodate a rubber washer to dampen the ticking of the clock.
10
Shape the teapot. Transfer the pattern to the blank, and
cut it out using your saw of choice. Shape the base, spout, lid, and
handle using a carving knife. Mark the center of the teapot body
and drill the appropriate-sized hole for your clock movement.
Follow the instructions that come with the clock mechanism.
9
Detail the front of the teapot. Finish up any shaping
needed, then transfer and carve the chip carving designs to the
teapot body. For better adhesion, use an awl to add texture to the
area where the clock face will be attached with glue.
11
Transfer the clock face pattern. Draw or trace the clock
face pattern onto the round blank. Use a chip carving knife to
make the outline cuts around the diferent design elements.
12
Rough out the leaf designs. Remove the wood between
the line cuts in the leaf design areas. Stop cut around the buttons
in the leaf designs or use an appropriate-sized eye punch. If you
break one of, glue it back in place.
13
CARVING THE TEAPOT
CARVING THE CLOCK FACE
Teapot Clock.indd 82 4/18/07 12:34:49 PM
www.woodcarvingillustrated.com 83
Carve the leaf designs. Cut notches to divide the section
into one long leaf and two short leaves. Notch the edges of the
leaves for a realistic look. Use a stab knife to add a hint of a vein to
each leaf. Texture the negative spaces and buttons in the leaves.
14
Add the numerals and attach the clock face. Add the
numbers using standard letter-carving techniques. Glue the clock
face in place, and re-drill the hole for the clock mechanism. Then
apply your fnish of choice. I suggest a spray lacquer.
15
Test ft the pendulum. Hang the pendulum mechanism, to
determine where the spoon should hang. Mark the location. Cut
the pendulum rod so that about 138" of it will overlap the spoon.
Carve a groove on the back of the spoon tight enough to hold the
pendulum rod in place. Squeeze the tangs of the pendulum rod
hanger together to ft it into the spoon groove. Make the groove
slightly longer than the pendulum rod to allow for adjustment.
17
Mount the pendulum. Hang the spoon from the clock
mechanism. I add a spacer fush with the clock mechanism hanger,
to keep the clock hanging vertical on the wall.
18
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
58"
Assemble the clock mechanism, using the diagram
as a guide. Mount the minute hand (9) temporarily on the shaft
frst. Lightly tighten the nut (10), and rotate the minute hand,
using the knob (13) until it is exactly over the 12. Remove the
nut and minute hand, and then mount the hour hand (8) over a
full hour. Remount the minute hand and nut. Tighten the nut by
holding down the time set knob on the back of the mechanism
and turning the nut. Set the proper time, using the time set knob
on the back. DO NOT rotate the hands to set the time. Finally
mount the second hand.
KEY TO DIAGRAM
1. Clock Movement
2. Rubber Washer
3. Wood Thickness
4. Flat Washer
5. Hex Nut
6. Clock Movement
Hand Shaft
16
ADDING THE CLOCK MECHANISM
7. Tefon Shaft
8. Hour Hand
9. Minute Hand
10. Minute Hand Threaded Nut
11. Thread Shaft End
12. Second Hand
13. Time Set Knob
Teapot Clock.indd 83 4/18/07 12:35:02 PM
Woodcarving Illustrated | SUMMER 2007 84
Photocopy at 100%
Note to professional copying services.
You may make up to ten copies of this
pattern for the personal use of the buyer
of this magazine.
2
0
0
7
F
o
x
C
h
a
p
e
l
P
u
b
l
i
s
h
i
n
g
C
o
.
,
I
n
c
.
W
o
o
d
c
a
r
v
i
n
g
I
l
l
u
s
t
r
a
t
e
d
D
e
s
i
g
n
e
r
:
B
a
r
r
y
M
c
K
e
n
z
i
e
ONLINE ARTICLE
woodcarvingillustrated.com
Access this article and print your own
pattern from our website.
Teapot Clock.indd 84 4/18/07 3:37:45 PM
www.woodcarvingillustrated.com 85
About the Author
Barry McKenzie is a popular instructor and
owner of the School of Chip Carving. He has
several instructional and pattern booklets
available. Barry also writes a regular chip
carving newsletter. Contact him at 23427
Route 66, Lebanon, MO 65536 or visit him online at
www.chipcarvingschool.com.
MATERIALS:
" x 138" x 838" basswood
(spoon)
" x 8" x 10" basswood (teapot
body)
" x 4 "-diameter basswood
circle (clock face)
Clock mechanism with
pendulum
Sandpaper, 220 grit
Finish of choice
Wood glue of choice
TOOLS:
Carving knife
Chip carving knife
Stab knife
Bent knife or rotary power
carver of choice
Band saw or coping saw
Drill with assorted size
drill bits
Ruler, compass, and
mechanical pencil (to draw on
chip-carving pattern)
Eye punch (optional)
materials
& tools
SPECIAL SOURCES:
Clock mechanisms are available from a variety of sources;
a good choice for this project is the Klockit 11108,
800-556-2548, www.klockit.com.
EXTRA SPOONS
Work on several spoons at the same time.
Then if one isn't turning out the way
you'd like it to, you have a backup.
tips
VISIT
www.woodcarvingillustrated.com
Dont Miss
a Single Issue!
Renew Your Subscription
Change Your Address
Give a Gift Subscription
Order Back Issues
Browse Over 100 Carving Books
Join the Carvers Message Board
ITS FAST! ITS EASY!
Teapot Clock.indd 85 5/4/07 11:52:03 AM
